Re: [gNewSense-users] Computer Won't Boot

[Harry]

When it I type "p", I see three valid partitions:

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000526f0

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1       37998   305218903+  83  Linux
/dev/sda2           37999       38913     7349737+   5  Extended
/dev/sda5           37999       38913     7349706   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Should I continue the steps as normal anyways?
And also, just to be clear, I should let cat /dev/zero > /dev/sda1 run for a 
few seconds, then use Ctrl-C to stop it, or should I let it run in the 
background and create a new terminal tab for the other steps?

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 26, 2010, at 3:20 AM, Paul O'Malley <address@hidden> wrote:

> live cd
> 
> terminal
> 
> sudo cat /dev/zero > /dev/sda1
> 
> let it run for a few seconds
> 
> this will kill the hard drive
> 
> next up partition the disk using
> 
> sudo fdisk /dev/sda
> 
> p to print it should show no valid paritions
> 
> create a large partition at the front of the disk
> /      make it bootable ext3
> and a 1 gig at the back end (for swap)
> 
> type sudo partprobe to have the device re read
> then type sudo fdisk -l
> partitions should show up
> 
> reboot  (just so you know the partitions have taken
> 
> install as normal
> 
> (I've 15 years or more of doing this kind of thing and I had to do exactly 
> this last Wednesday)
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> Thanks ahead of time for any help.
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> ^^ seriously are you aware of the amount of apps on that device that might 
>> rat out your personal information to advertisers?
>>   
> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704694004576020083703574602.html
> 
> 
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